The First Time Investor's Workbook

From basic research to advanced strategies, this useful, interactive book combines today's most important investing concepts in one easy-to-follow resource. To help investors make the jump from reading to actually placing that first trade, it covers:

- How to determine a realistic investing budget

- Where to buy stocks and mutual funds online

- Top sources of reliable investing information

Time-Honored Techniques for Understanding the Stock Market­­And Protecting Your Financial Plan from Market Downturns

To be successful in today's turbulent investment markets, you must know your own investment style and risk tolerance as well as the proven techniques that will help you to succeed. The First Time Investor's Workbook is a hands-on, step-by-step course for learning the basic and advanced strategies used by leading investors to build plans designed to succeed­­in good and bad markets.

Worksheets, checklists, charts, and examples show you how to build your financial plan like professionals have for years, and then help you to invest based on skill and knowledge instead of luck and misinformation. The First Time Investor's Workbook introduces you to crucial techniques and tools including:

• The Lifeboat Drill­­An easy-to-follow exercise for determining your risk tolerance­­and defining your investment strategy
• The Investment Policy Statement­­A strategic tool for staying on target­­and on track­­to meet your financial goals
• The Five Rules of Investing­­Cornerstone ideas you must understand to increase your probability of success
• Complete Investment Glossary­­Definitions and examples for today's most important investing concepts

Start today to design and implement an effective investment plan­­one that works with the market instead of against it­­with The First Time Investor's Workbook.

On virtually every page, helpful icons alert you to key points you can't afford to overlook. Look for these icons:

• Actions you should take, fill in, or complete
• Technical information you must understand to maximize your returns
• Ideas that can save you time, money, or trouble
• Easy­­but essential­­concepts to understand
• Cautions to help you stay out of investment danger
• Financial Riskometer tells you what risks to watch out for­­and why
• Life Situations such as college or divorce, and how to invest for each

• Introduction.
• What Will This Workbook Accomplish for You?
• How to Use This Workbook.
• How This Workbook Is Organized.
• Special Features of This Workbook.

• The Investment Policy Statement (IPS).
• The Financial Success Diet.
• Mental Accounting.
• What Lifestyle Stage Are You In?
• How Much Money Will You Need?
• What Kind of Investor Are You?
• The Five Personalities.
• The Lifeboat Drill.
• Recognizing Your Constraints.
• What Is Your Time Horizon?
• Liquidity.
• Tax Rates.
• Legal Considerations.
• Unique Circumstances.
• Recap.

• The Rules.
• The Six Concepts.
• Concept One: The Importance of Asset Allocation.
• Concept Two: Understanding Diversification.
• Concept Three: Combining Dissimilar Investments.
• Concept Four: Adding Time to Your Investment Program.
• Concept Five: The Magic of Compounding.
• Concept Six: Understanding Asset-Class Investing.
• How to Invest in These Asset Classes.
• Understanding the Vehicles—Mutual Funds.
• (and more...)